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Cyclone Fengal: Cyclone Fengal brought heavy rains to northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, which continued this morning. Fengal reached close to the coast of Puducherry on Saturday. The rains caused by the cyclone forced the Chennai airport to be closed, with many parts of the city waterlogged. Flight operations resumed at Chennai International Airport from 4.00 am today. Services were suspended since yesterday due to the cyclone.
Three people dead so far
Three people have died due to lightning in separate incidents in Chennai, which received heavy rains due to Cyclone Fengal. Heavy rains flooded many parts of the city. However, there were no immediate reports of any major damage in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, where the Indian Army has rescued more than 100 people from the flooded area in the Union Territory.
Red alert issued for heavy rains
The IMD said that Cyclone Fengal completed the landfall process at around 2 am on Sunday night. After landfall, Cyclone Fengal is forecast to move west-southwestwards and gradually weaken into a deep depression within the next six hours. Heavy rains are expected in Tamil Nadu for the next 48 hours. Chennai airport suspended all its operations till 4 am on Sunday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for many parts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry. High tide and heavy rainfall are predicted in the region.
10 Points
- Cyclone Fengal’s landfall has begun near the coast of Puducherry. The IMD said the cyclonic storm is likely to cross the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the next three to four hours.
- Heavy rains and strong winds caused by the storm continue to wreak havoc. Flight and train services have been canceled in Chennai.
- In a rain-related incident, a migrant worker trying to withdraw cash from an ATM in Chennai was reportedly electrocuted to death.
- Cyclone Fengal crossed north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, close to Puducherry, with wind speeds reaching 90 kmph. It was centered over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, close to Puducherry yesterday. It will continue to move slowly west-southwestwards and gradually weaken into a deep depression during the next 3 hours.
- After landfall, it will continue to move west-southwestwards and gradually weaken into a deep depression during the next 6 hours. The system is being continuously monitored by Doppler weather radar in Chennai. Heavy rains inundated parts of the Chennai airport, Cyclone Fengal has approached the Puducherry coast.
- Operations at the Chennai airport remained suspended, while people living in low-lying areas in neighbouring Union Territory Puducherry were evacuated to safer places.
- In Puducherry, an NDRF team has arrived from Arakkonam to join the relief and rehabilitation operations. According to District Collector Kulothungan, Cyclone ‘Fengal’ had crossed the coast by yesterday evening. The entire road and many tourist places near the coast have been closed to prevent people from going near the beaches. Schools and colleges remained closed on Saturday as well.
- The speed of local trains in Chennai has also slowed down. The Southern Railway has also announced changes in train schedules and termination of train operations in some places in view of the situation.
- The forecast has advised fishermen to stay away from the beach and predicted high waves of up to one metre (three feet) in the sea, posing a risk of flooding in low-lying coastal areas.
- Cyclone Fengal hit the coast of Sri Lanka earlier this week, killing at least 12 people, including six children.
